Disclaimer: Clamp owns xxxHolic not me.

AN: White day a Japanese holiday started in the late 70's set 30 days after Valentines days.

Chapter 10 – White Day

White Day, usually Doumeki's least favorite day of the as how he had to hunt down every fangirl (an occasional fanboy) that had given him Chocolates on Valentines' day and give them a return gift. This year though it was different. Oh sure, he still had dozens of fangirls to gently let down with his non-committal 'return gift'. He was carrying a huge bag of lovely softly tinted peach and yellow bi-colored roses. But at the bottom of that bag were several very special White Day gifts, for his very special people. This year White Day meant a whole lot more than a big florist bill and dealing with girls he barely knew.

Watanuki had been out of school for almost a week now, he wouldn't be returning until the start of next week. The friends were all going over to Yuuko's after school to exchange gifts and have a White Day party. The White Day Party had been Yuuko's idea, and was really an excuse to get out the good booze and drink Mokona under the table (if that was even possible). Her gift had been easy he had already brought that to the shop yesterday and hidden it in Watanuki's room, for some reason the toting of a bottle of good aged wine around school by an underage student was frowned upon. Go figure.

And though they weren't exchanging gifts until the party, he had also gotten each of the girls a different flower to wear at school, that way the girls wouldn't feel left out as he was delivery all those stupid roses. (sigh) It was going to be a very long day. For Himiwari he had gotten a dark pink colored Tiger Lily thinking the colors would suit her best and look good in her long dark hair, for Aya and her lighter complexion he got a more vibrant scarlet colored Asiatic Lily that would stand out nicely against her blonde hair. That the deep red color meant more than that…well maybe there was that too.

Meeting the girls outside the building before classes started, he had gifted them with the Lilies, which they both promptly placed in their hair for all the school to see. Then he stole a kiss or two from Himiwari and pulled Aya into his arms for nice long smooch. Fortifying himself for the long day ahead, of hunting down all the fangirls (and fanboys) he owed the roses to.

"Well he looks just absolutely thrilled, I supposed it's like this every year, huh?"

"It used to be, last year I only got one of the yellow roses, and I certainly didn't get any kisses."

"I'm sure Kimi-chan would have been 'happy' to correct that had you let him."

"Are you kidding! Just the 'idea' would probably have given him a heart attack, either that or he would have passed out from all the twirling." Himiwari joked with her friend as they walked into the building. Aya smiled to herself (You are SO going to love my gifts to you guys this year).

By the end of the day, more than a third of the female population of their high school was sporting one of the peach colored roses. Aya made sure to avoid going into any of the girl's bathrooms without an adult 'real' close at hand, she was in no mood to get accidentally stabbed by some disappointed girl. Though with Watanuki having been confined to the shop for the duration of his recuperation she had not needed to expend any of her spiritual or mage energy and her shields were all back up to full strength. No evil ayakashi was going be able to sneak up on her, much less some demented rabid fangirl. But better safe than sorry she always said.

The late afternoon found them at the shop, drinking tea (or booze if you were a certain Witch and Black Manjuu) and munching the special treats Watanuki had spent the day preparing for them. He would still tire easily and still had a bandage or two. But he was up and about now and definitely back in charge of 'his' kitchen.

Yuuko was sipping some of the fine wine Doumeki had gifted her and Mokona with, smoke curling lazily in the air. She watched the teens thru hooded eyes as they exchanged their White Day gifts. Though Himiwari hadn't actually received anything on Valentine's Day, she gotten everyone a small token gift, Watanuki had of course cooked up the special treats they were all enjoying and was making a special dinner for them. Doumeki was currently in the process of giving Himiwari a pair of lovely embroidered hair ribbons….

"Thank you Shizuka-kun, they are beautiful" To the slender teenage boy on his left he gave the latest copy of the Clamp manga series he knew the boy was currently reading, and had been dying to get his hands on.

"Oi, here" Putting the Manga in the other boy's hand and getting his finger up just in time to save the hearing in his left ear.

"WHAT! IS WRONG WITH YOU, YOU JERK! MY NAME IS NOT OI! HOW MANY TIMES DO I… What, Oh. Hey this is the one I've been wanting." Life was good, Watanuki was nearly back to normal, well normal for Watanuki that is. That warmed the stoic archer's heart, even if it did constantly imperil his hearing.

Turning to the blonde girl on his right he handed her a small box. Knowing his Obaa-san planned to gift the Mage on her birthday with the Kimono she had worn the day after Watanuki's accident, he had bought a simple comb for her hair with a few delicate Sakura blossoms falling from it.

"Ohhh, Shizuka it's so beautiful" She whispered clutching the box with the comb to her chest, her eyes bright with unshed tears. Taking a breath the mage cleared her head put aside the gift and picked up the bag she had brought to the shop with her. Rreaching inside she pulled out the tools and ingredients she would need to give her 'gifts'. She didn't have a lot of cash to spend so instead she decided to use the Wild magic to give her friends their presents. She had laid out a half dozen pieces of cut quartz of varying shapes and sizes, there was a soft glow emanating from five of them. She picked the glowing stones up and handed them to Yuuko.

"I have placed spells of protection on these stones and fully charged them"

"They will be put to good use, those children traveling thru the worlds will have need of these at some point." Then grinning her Cheshire grin she added. "After they pay a price of course."

[sigh] "Of course, Yuuko" Picking up the last piece of quartz she deftly secured it with a throng to be, oh say hung around the neck, and handed it to Doumeki.

"The stone I am giving you is what is known as a blank, there are no spells upon it nor does it currently hold any kind of energy. For your birthday, which is but a few days away, I will also show you how to key the stone to your spiritual energy and charge it up, then you will have a reserve of spiritual power when you need it. I will also show you how to set it up so the stone will absorb the excess energy that you emit on an everyday basis. You can think of it like a rechargeable spiritual battery if you want." Doumeki clutched the stone tightly in his hand before taking the leather throng and securing it around his neck.

Setting up the footed bowl she used in her spell casting and placing a selection of herbs inside, Aya faced the two remaining teens.

"Kimi-chan, I know you have finally spoken with Yuuko-san about Himiwari's 'Bad luck'. I also know what she told you was the price for even trying to remove it. That is because it is not supposed to be removed, it is necessary for the days that are coming." Watanuki eyes began to fill with unshed tears at these words, and Himiwari who had lived with her 'curse' all her life sighed resignedly.

"But, that doesn't mean there nothing I can do." When one door closes, another door opens. "I meditated for a long time, (and bribed Yuuko) the Wild Magic has given me an answer. I may not be able to remove Himiwari's bad luck, but what I CAN do is to give Kimihiro the same immunity to it that Shizuka and I have." Watanuki launched himself at the blonde mage wrapping his arms around her neck, knocking her over, covering her face with kisses in the process, they tumbled into the lap of the archer.

"Really?" kiss "You can do that?" kiss, kiss, kiss. Aya laughed under the weight of the raven haired Seer.

"Oi, Get off."

"Ha! Your just jealous cause all you got was some dumb ole rock, na na." Watanuki crowed to the Archer, though he did get off said Mage and Archer, only to start doing his happy twirling dance about the room, sparkles and hearts filling the air.

"Idiot"

Putting his hand to the stone at his throat Doumeki smirked. For a boy who talked almost non-stop and then swore that the Archer never heard a word the Seer said, said boy hadn't been listening to a single word the Mage had said about this stone. Doumeki had though, he always listened, despite what the smaller teen thought. This stone would very likely mean the difference between the seer living or dying someday, the energy he would be able to store within it making that important difference. It was a gift he wouldn't trade for the world.

"Kimi.. Kimi-chan! Come on hold still for a minute would ya." The Mage was chasing the Seer around the room trying to gather a couple of strands of his hair for her spell. After she had that accomplished that major feat, she snatched a few from the head of the Archer and Himiwari before sitting down and pulling out a couple of her own.

"Ouch, hey that hurt!"

"Sit down, Idiot"

"Jerk" But Watanuki settled back down in his seat, the blonde teen finished placing the hair she had garnered in the bowl before her and was taking out her dagger in preparation of drawing a little of her blood to power the spell. Pushing back her sleeve a little she was about to draw the blade when a strong calloused hand grasped her wrist while the other another hand pushed her sleeve all the way up to her elbow. Numerous thin silvery lines traced up and down the forearm, there were a couple of pink half healed lines and the newest wound was still an angry red from when she had healed Watanuki. (She had needed to cut that one rather deep) Doumeki scowled at the implications.

"Use mine"

"That's sweet but I can't. First this is 'my' gift to Kimihiro and Himiwari, also the Wild Mage casting the spell always has to provide at least a drop or two of their blood to active the spell." Grinning ruefully and wagging her fingers at the silent warrior, she added. "I have a real problem with cutting my fingers."

"But not there?"

"When I cut my hand or one of my fingers it interferes with my ability to fight, this" Nodding towards the arm the archer was still holding onto. "I don't even notice after the fact and I very heal fast."

"Hn." He released her captured wrist, not liking her answer but understanding, as an archer his hands and especially the fingers he used to pull the bow were imperative for accuracy and strength. Eyes moving to the spirit bait he had sworn to protect, he understood her reasons all too well.

Placing her arm over the bowl once again she made a small shallow cut allowing a couple of drops to fall. As before when she healed Watanuki she closed her eyes, she raised the kekki with a thought, then reached for the Wild Magic, the contents of the bowl flaring to life.

{Okay, it's me, please give Kimihiro immunity to Himiwari's bad luck just like Shizuka and I have.}

(-)

"I accept, as agreed upon"

This time there was not the heated urgency of a life in danger, and so the Magic flowed gently from the Mage into the slender teen, he glowed briefly as the Wild Magic completed her request. Once the process had completed Aya dropped the Kekki.

"There all done"

"Really? Alright!" Watanuki leapt into the air punching his fist upwards. He then scooped Himiwari up into his arms and after planting a huge kiss on her lips he began to dance around the room with her in his arms. Maru, Moro and Mokona all joined in chasing after the twirling pair. it was good to see Watanuki so happy, and Himiwari was smiling one of her truly beautiful genuine smiles as she was danced about the room.

But the price had yet to be paid.

The worlds were out of balance.